AMAZONAS, BRAZIL – The action, carried out between May 23 and 26 under Operation Ágata 2025, targeted remote areas along the Japurá and Puruê rivers in the state of Amazonas.
On Friday, a dredge and two tugboats were dismantled near the Juami-Japurá Ecological Station.
A day later, authorities found a larger illegal setup on the Puruê River, including a dredge, a push boat, a fuel-laden barge, illegal firearms, and over one kilogram of mercury—a toxic chemical commonly used in gold extraction.
All equipment was seized or destroyed in accordance with environmental enforcement protocols.
The operation was coordinated by Joint Command APOENA and supported by the Federal Police, the Brazilian Army and Navy, and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).
Authorities did not disclose the exact locations of the other dredges destroyed.
Operation Ágata is part of Brazil’s broader effort to reinforce its presence in the Amazon and combat illegal activities in border regions.

Images: Brazilian Armed Forces

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